1 Timothy 6:14 – Holding out for the Real Verdict
13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing…
An opportunity to leave a lucrative CEO position in order to lead World Vision prompts a reevaluation from Richard Stearns which he narrates in The Hole in Our Gospel. In such a crucible, he looks back on his life and realizes, "I had been confusing my success with God's approval."
Paul, perhaps, would have Timothy avoid this beforehand. Already in 1 Timothy 6, Paul has warned Timothy against the lures of riches and spiritual pride. Even when Paul specifically affirms the re-centering power of Timothy's confession before many witnesses in 1 Timothy 6:12, he immediately grounds himself on the reality that Christ, rather than the human gallery, provides the ultimate validation.
The point must be crucial, and often conflated, because I suspect he is hitting it again two verses later. Having called Timothy toward the spotlessness that even Pontius Pilate could recognize in Christ, Paul almost immediately retreats to the reality that no human can give Timothy the ultimate verdict of his effectiveness.
He may get indicators of his success from fellow pilgrims in this world, or even from those who entirely find their identity in this sphere, but the real evaluation at affirmation is still to come. Lest your head be turned, Timothy, when a person glimpses and aspect of Jesus in you and says so, Timothy, remember, our aim is to continue in that direction blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing.
If our heads aren't entirely turned by a complement as to our Christ-likeness, our equal and opposite reaction is perhaps to despair that such a likeness will ever be evident in ways this world can taste and see. When we conform and know it, we wonder if the Lord's love is really enough to make us different in aspects that will last through eternity. The Psalmist answers emphatically, reflecting in Psalm 138:8 that the Lord will perfect that which concerns us.
Tim Keller in his book on prayer gains assurance of God's persevering love and work by noting the running start it got on any of our frustrations. Declares Keller, "He put his love on us in the depths of time. It is INFINITELY long."
Despair, then, can take a seat. So can false modesty which would deflect any time by God's grace that some aspect of Christ's character is evident in us. When one of the millions upon millions of facets of that glory is noted by our fellow pilgrims, we can rejoice, and keep about that work which He gives us to do.
We can rejoice in the reality that He will finish what He has started in us. We can rejoice in that to which Paul points Timothy, that when we see Him, we will be like Him. No other confirmation or commendation can overshadow that.
An opportunity to leave a lucrative CEO position in order to lead World Vision prompts a reevaluation from Richard Stearns which he narrates in The Hole in Our Gospel. In such a crucible, he looks back on his life and realizes, "I had been confusing my success with God's approval."
Paul, perhaps, would have Timothy avoid this beforehand. Already in 1 Timothy 6, Paul has warned Timothy against the lures of riches and spiritual pride. Even when Paul specifically affirms the re-centering power of Timothy's confession before many witnesses in 1 Timothy 6:12, he immediately grounds himself on the reality that Christ, rather than the human gallery, provides the ultimate validation.
The point must be crucial, and often conflated, because I suspect he is hitting it again two verses later. Having called Timothy toward the spotlessness that even Pontius Pilate could recognize in Christ, Paul almost immediately retreats to the reality that no human can give Timothy the ultimate verdict of his effectiveness.
He may get indicators of his success from fellow pilgrims in this world, or even from those who entirely find their identity in this sphere, but the real evaluation at affirmation is still to come. Lest your head be turned, Timothy, when a person glimpses and aspect of Jesus in you and says so, Timothy, remember, our aim is to continue in that direction blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing.
If our heads aren't entirely turned by a complement as to our Christ-likeness, our equal and opposite reaction is perhaps to despair that such a likeness will ever be evident in ways this world can taste and see. When we conform and know it, we wonder if the Lord's love is really enough to make us different in aspects that will last through eternity. The Psalmist answers emphatically, reflecting in Psalm 138:8 that the Lord will perfect that which concerns us.
Tim Keller in his book on prayer gains assurance of God's persevering love and work by noting the running start it got on any of our frustrations. Declares Keller, "He put his love on us in the depths of time. It is INFINITELY long."
Despair, then, can take a seat. So can false modesty which would deflect any time by God's grace that some aspect of Christ's character is evident in us. When one of the millions upon millions of facets of that glory is noted by our fellow pilgrims, we can rejoice, and keep about that work which He gives us to do.
We can rejoice in the reality that He will finish what He has started in us. We can rejoice in that to which Paul points Timothy, that when we see Him, we will be like Him. No other confirmation or commendation can overshadow that.
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